How Can You Make a Difference by Shopping Small?

Want to make a difference by shopping small this holiday season?  Or are you more concerned with Black Friday sales and big box store deals?  Small business Saturday is a day to support your local community, for their benefit AND yours!

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Shopping Small and Why Your Buying Habits Really Matter

Why Big Business Causes Big Problems

The holidays are fast approaching and everywhere I look I see Black Friday ads from major retailers. All of the big box stores are gearing up to provide shoppers the hottest new toys, clothes and electronics at deep discounts.

How can they provide these deep discounts? Mainly because chain stores buy in bulk and get huge discounts themselves. In addition,  they know once they get you in the door you will buy OTHER things from them. However, the things you buy at one big box store are pretty much the things you buy at every other major chain department store. As a result, you can’t tell the difference between them at all. In other words, there isn’t much that is ‘unique’ about a Black Friday purchase from a major retailer.

More Holiday Shopping Tips 

Those cheap items you buy at big box stores and online?  Typically, they are made overseas in areas with questionable labor laws.  And those dollars leave our country, helping THEIR economy.  Not ours.  Shopping small and local keeps money in your community.

wallet with credit card

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What is Shop Small Saturday?

Have you never heard of Shop Small Saturday?  (otherwise known as Small Business Saturday?).  It has been around for MANY years and is gaining in popularity. It’s basically a nationwide movement that celebrates small businesses.  The success of small business helps communities thrive and stay vibrant. 

People often forget about the little guy in the excitement of great deals and huge savings.  The goal of Small Business Saturday is to remind consumers to financially support the small businesses in their community.  Shopping and dining at local businesses keeps small entrepreneurs in business!

shopping small

 

Why Should You Shop Small?

Want UNIQUE rather than CHEAP? Reconsider your gift shopping strategies.  Here are a few ways that your support of small business can make a difference:

1. Get more personal attention:  How many times have you wandered around a big box store looking for somebody with a certain colored apron to help you out?  OR, you finally find an employee but there are 3 people in line to talk to him already! Talk about frustrating! Of course, that rarely happens with small businesses.

2. Give a gift with character:  Ever give someone a gift that you bought through a major retailer and they got that exact same thing from someone else? Buy a gift from a small business owner who owns a shop downtown and you can pretty much guarantee that it will be a unique and one of a kind gift!

3. Keep your money local and your downtown thriving:  No one wants to drive through a quaint downtown shopping center only to see half a dozen stores that are closed up. Support  small businesses with your wallet or there will be no more quaint down town areas to enjoy!

4. Avoid the Black Friday stress!  One reason to NOT shop on Black Friday and to stay home completely is to avoid the chaos! The traffic, the crowded parking lots, the lines and the screaming children who really should be at home in bed….none of these things make shopping on Black Friday enjoyable in the least.  

5. Help the Environment:  You don’t have to buy organic baby blankets or hemp socks to benefit the environment when you shop small. Just shopping at a local retailer helps you reduce your carbon footprint. Fewer travel miles for your product mean less emissions in the air. Small businesses also tend to use less packaging and are much more aware of cutting utility costs than big businesses are.

 

 Consider Shopping Small Year Round

How can you make a difference shopping small?  By continuing those mindful shopping  habits year round and not just on one day.  Small Business Saturday is a great day to start.  However, shopping small should be a year round habit whenever possible.  Visit your local farmer’s market.  Support a local crafter.  In addition, buy products made locally whenever possible.  Your shopping habits DO matter and you can vote with your dollar!

Have any small business shopping habits to share?

 

 

10 thoughts on “How Can You Make a Difference by Shopping Small?”

  1. We live in a city with a population of about 6,000 so we’re lucky to have several small businesses to choose from. I see that trend slowly changing around here though so I’ll keep this in mind.

    Reply
  2. I have somewhat of a small business. It doesn’t bring in an incredible amount of income; however, every little bit helps. I will be Christmas shopping with small businesses (including myself).

    Reply
  3. I love shopping at small businesses! I really like that “unique gift” factor. That and avoiding the black Friday crowds definitely is VERY appealing.

    Reply
  4. I also love supporting small businesses. My husband always says that he would rather shop at a small mom and pop store rather give our money to the big chains of stores.

    Reply

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